Carol Ferrans, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the UIC College of Nursing recently returned from Hong Kong where she was inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) celebrated 25 nurse researchers from around the world into the at STTI’s 25th International Nursing Research Congress.

Dr. Ferrans was recognized for her extraordinary research in nursing and her significant and continuous national and international contributions. This includes her innovative research in the field of Quality of Life (QOL) and the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index (QLI) which has been translated into 21 languages and has been used world-wide. More than 200 research studies have been published using the QLI, with more than 900 published citations of the first publication alone. In addition to QOL, Dr. Ferrans research extends to health disparities, particularly cancer as it relates to the difference in outcomes for African-American and Caucasian breast cancer survivors.

Dr. Ferrans research has profoundly influenced health care practice and policy. Besides QOL being a commonly used measure for research and clinical practice, Dr. Ferrans has led a Chicago-wide campaign to address deplorable mortality rates for African-American women. Her leadership resulted in increased funding to address disparities and legislation (The Illinois Reducing Breast Cancer Disparities Act) which was signed into law in 2009. Because of Dr. Ferrans efforts, Illinois has become the most progressive state in the country to provide screening, diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer and cervical cancer for all uninsured women in the state.

A “star” scholar, Dr. Ferrans has garnered $56,000,000 in research funding throughout her career and has an extensive amount of publications. She has been recognized with many prestigious awards such as the Distinguished Researcher of the Oncology of Nursing Society, Distinguished Contributions to Research Award from the Midwest Nursing Research Society, and University Scholar Award from the President of the University of Illinois.

Created in 2010, the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame recognizes nurse researchers who have achieved significant and sustained national or international recognition and whose research has improved the profession and the people it serves. Dr. Ferrans serves as the CON’s celebrated honoree and is certainly worthy of this Hall of Fame achievement. The theme for the 25th Congress was "Engaging Colleagues: Improving Global Health Outcomes".